AUBURN – Lawyers for Jeremy and Sarah Allen are seeking separate trials for the couple, who each are charged with abusing their 22-month-old adopted son before his death.
The state wants to try the Lisbon couple before the same jury. But their lawyers will be in court Friday to argue for two separate trials.
“The state is unable to show that the two alleged incidents are related in any manner other than that they involved the same alleged victim,” lawyer Verne Paradie, who represents Sarah Allen, argued in his motion.
“The state’s attempt to join these charges is nothing more than an attempt to prejudice the jury against both Mr. Allen and Mrs. Allen.”
Sarah Allen has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly shaking Nathaniel with so much force that it rattled his brain and killed him a day later.
Police say the shaking occurred on Feb. 14.
Jeremy Allen has been charged with assault, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Police say the Navy journalist hit his son, Nathaniel, with a spatula two days before his death. The father allegedly left bruises on the toddler’s upper thigh and buttocks, but he has never been blamed for his son’s death.
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